Country Update BILLBOARD.COM/NEWSLETTERS NOVEMBER 19, 2018 | PAGE 1 OF 23 INSIDE BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
[email protected] Kane Brown, Jimmie Allen Reign Urban, Musgraves, Stapleton: >page 4 CMA Winners Reflect Culture In Transition Friendship Rules At ASCAP, BMI When author-futurist David Houle dubbed the current window press corps backstage that its job remains vital in spite of the >page 11 of time “the Shift Age,” the former Country Radio Seminar attacks it has endured in these uncertain times. keynote speaker recognized that culture had entered a period “You are not the enemy of the people,” quipped T.J. Osborne. where digital transformations, exploding populations and To be certain, the CMAs produced plenty of stability, dwindling resources would change our perceptions of reality. beginning with Underwood and Brad Paisley’s return as hosts Maren Morris Preps As we speed through a period Houle billed as “the for an 11th straight year. Underwood’s victory was her fifth win Next Album Transformation Decade,” the 52nd annual Country Music in the category and second in the last three years. Meanwhile, >page 13 Association Awards aptly embraced the tug between past and the Osbornes copped their third consecutive duo trophy, present on Nov. 14. Some of its key trophies went to Keith Stapleton snagged his fourth straight male vocalist honor (and Urban, Chris Stapleton and Kacey upped his win total to 13 trophies in a Musgraves — artists whose work four-year period), and guitarist Mac The CMAs: In Pictures reflects both a deep reverence for McAnally snared his 10th musician of >page 14 history and a hunger for something the year accolade, surpassing Country new.